Advent: Sacred Waiting

Read

Romans 8:25 “But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”

Isaiah 30:18 “Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!”

Think

The word Advent comes from the Latin word adventus, meaning “coming” or “arrival.” In the weeks leading up to Christmas, Advent invites us to pause and prepare—not in the rush of holiday shopping or endless to-do lists, but in the stillness of waiting for something beyond our world’s best offers. It’s a time set aside to remember that Jesus came once and will come again, and this reality reshapes everything.

C.S. Lewis wrote, “The birth of Christ is the central event in the history of the earth—the very thing the whole story has been about.” Advent reminds us of this greater story. The world we live in is often chaotic, broken, and painful, but it’s also a world that God stepped into—fully, lovingly, humbly. Advent whispers to us that the darkness we feel will not last forever. We remember Christ’s first coming as a humble baby in a manger, and we look forward to his return, when he will make all things new.

Advent is the season of “already and not yet.” Jesus has come, bringing the promise of hope, but we’re still waiting for the complete fulfillment of that promise. Like a glimpse of sunrise in the early morning, we see his light, but we’re also longing for its full warmth. Advent reminds us that this waiting is not empty—it’s filled with anticipation, hope, and the promise of God’s presence. Even as we wait, God is with us.

As we enter Advent, we prepare our hearts. But not by packing our schedules or filling every space; rather, by making room for what matters most. This season asks us to let go of distractions and reconnect with the wonder of Christ and the hope that he brings. Advent is about finding joy and peace, even in the waiting, because we know who is coming.

So this Advent, let’s reclaim the wonder of waiting. In the midst of busy days, take time to reflect, to pause, to open your heart to the Savior who has come and will come again. Let your anticipation remind you of the story you’re a part of—a story of redemption, hope, and the promise that, in Christ, all things will one day be made right.

Apply

Think about what it means for God to be with us now and for his promises to one day make all things right. This small practice can help you start the day focused on hope and gratitude.

Pray

Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of Jesus and the hope that his coming brings. Teach me to wait with hope, to see your presence in each day, and to trust in your promise to make all things new. Let my waiting be filled with purpose as I lean on you and prepare for what you have next. In Jesus’ name. Amen.